Food or beverage card comprising an actuator
The present invention relates to a Card for containing food or beverage ingredients comprising: a substantially planar and rigid base portion, at least two ingredient compartments for storing the ingredients and at least two discharge portions, each discharge portions being linked to one of the compartments and extending along the plane of the base portion, and at least one sealing member provided on the base portion covering the compartments and discharge portions on the base portion side of the card, wherein the card is designed for insertion in a food and beverage preparation device in order to dispense the ingredients from the compartments via the discharge portions. The invention further relates to a food and beverage preparation system, comprising a card according to the invention and a food and beverage preparation device, as well as to a method for preparing food or beverages using the card.
1. A method for preparing a food or beverage product from food or beverage ingredients, the method comprising the steps of:
injecting a liquid into a card containing the food or beverage ingredients, the card comprising a substantially planar and rigid base portion, at least two ingredient compartments for storing the ingredients, and at least two discharge portions comprising a first discharge portion and a second discharge portion, each discharge portion comprising a channel, each discharge portion linked to one of the compartments and formed by recesses protruding from the plane of the base portion, at least one sealing member is provided on the base portion covering the compartments and the discharge portions on the base portion side of the card, the liquid is injected into the at least two ingredient compartments, the card is designed for insertion in a food and beverage preparation device to dispense the ingredients from the compartments via the discharge portions, the card comprising a flow-controlling element comprising an actuator in the discharge portions, and the actuator moves the flow-controlling element along the plane of the base portion of the card;
activating the channel of the first discharge portion to dispense a food or beverage prepared from a first compartment of the card; and
activating the channel of the second discharge portion to dispense a second food or beverage prepared from a second compartment of the card.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the card further comprises a mixing chamber, a first fluid injection member injects the liquid into the at least two ingredient compartments, and a second fluid injection member injects a gas or a liquid into the mixing chamber.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two discharge portions of the card extend from the respective ingredient compartments to a common mixing chamber, and an additional discharge portion extends from the mixing chamber along the plane of the base portion.
4. The method of claim 1 , comprising directing the food or beverage ingredients through the at least two channels arranged in one or more of the at least two discharge portions and moveable therein, such that the food or beverage ingredients pass the one or more of the at least two discharge portions.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the card further comprises a static mixer in at least one of the discharge portions.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising foaming at least one of the food or beverage ingredients with the static mixer.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the card is made of a heat conductive material.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising contacting the card with a heating member.